Supervisors postpone decision on JWA fee hikes

Paul Clinton

SANTA ANA -- John Wayne’s airport director asked county supervisors on

Tuesday to embrace middle-of-the-road fee hikes as a way to bail the

airport out of its dire financial straits.

Airport Director Alan Murphy, shortly after presenting the results of

a two-month review of the airport’s finances, made the recommendation

after announcing he would see a $10.4-million budget shortfall in the

current fiscal year.

A majority of supervisors promptly postponed a decision on the hikes,

on a familiar 3-2 airport-issue vote. The two South County supervisors

unsuccessfully pushed for a ban on the “discretionary spending” of about

$13 million a year in airport revenue on planning and promoting of an El

Toro airport.

The county board majority taps Fund 14M to the tune of about $1

million a month, Murphy said.

“I think you can run, but you can’t hide on this one,” Supervisor Todd

Spitzer said. “By not suspending 14M [spending], we’re putting [John

Wayne] in a crisis situation.”

Supervisor Jim Silva, who represents Newport-Mesa, was largely silent

about his reasons for supporting the move. He joined Cynthia Coad and

Chuck Smith in the decision to take up the matter in late January. Murphy

said the hikes of hourly parking fees, rental hangar space and other fees

wouldn’t go into effect until after March 1.

County supervisors have spent about $50 million to develop an airport

at El Toro. That would be in vain if voters approve a Great Park for the

base by voting for Measure W on March 5.

Airport supporters weren’t surprised by the move. Newport Beach

Councilman Dennis O’Neil said county money for an El Toro airport is

money well spent. He also acknowledged the political backdrop behind the

decision-making.

“Unfortunately, the El Toro issue is being driven by the politics, not

the merits,” O’Neil said. “If it were driven by the merits, there would

be no opposition.”

Other South County officials criticized the continued spending of John

Wayne revenue, calling it reckless while the airport is on the financial

ropes.

“It appears the board majority is going to spend whatever they want to

spend to push this airport through at any cost,” said Allan Songstad, the

chairman of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority. “It’s tragic when

public officials can’t see when they’re endangering the health of a

public agency.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .